Appendices
Acronyms & Abbreviations: General
The computer industry uses many acronyms and abbreviations, following is small sample of some that are used to describe general computing terms.
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Bit |
One or Zero (On or Off) |
A bit is the smallest unit of binary measure for a computer. Digital communication is a series of 1’s and 0’s (On’s and Off’s) |
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BIOS |
Basic Input Output System |
Low level functions of the computer |
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Byte |
Eight bits (One character) |
A byte is a series of eight bits ie 01010101 and usually represents a single character ie “H” |
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CDR |
Compact Disk Recordable |
A recordable CD, also referred to as WORM (see below) |
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CDROM |
Compact Disk Read Only Memory |
Most people know what a CD is, now you know what it stands for. |
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CDRW |
Compact Disk Recordable Re-Writable |
A re-recordable CD, like a CDR but can be erased and re-recorded many times. |
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CPU |
Central Processing Unit |
The heart of the computer, the main chip that does the actual processing. CPU speed is usually measured in MHz |
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DVD |
Digital Versatile Disk |
Not Digital Video Disk which is a common mistake. There are different types such as DVDROM and DVD Video |
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GB |
Giga-Byte |
Approximately one billion bytes, or a thousand million. (Not exactly one billion - see KB) |
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HDD |
Hard Disk Drive |
Storage area for programs and data. Programs are installed from floppy disk or CD onto the hard drive. When you open a program or file it is copied from the HDD to RAM. (See RAM) |
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KB |
Kilo-Byte |
Roughly a thousand bytes, it’s actually 1024 due to the binary counting system. |
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MB |
Mega-Byte |
A mega-byte is approximately one million bytes. (Actually 1,048,576 bytes, see KB) |
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MHz |
Mega-Hertz |
One MHz is one million cyles per second. A simple CPU operation might take one or more clock cycles to complete. Relates to processing speed. |
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MSDOS |
Microsoft Disk Operating System |
Before Microsoft Windows, MSDOS was the standard operating system for PC’s |
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OS |
Operating System |
System software such as MSDOS, Windows, Unix etc |
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RAM |
Random Access Memory |
Data is copied from the HDD and loaded into RAM when it is used. RAM is cleared when the data is no longer needed or when the power is switched off. |
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ROM |
Read Only Memory |
Memory chips that can be read but cannot be written to. Often used to store fixed programs inside your computer. |
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UPS |
Un-interruptible Power Supply |
Battery backup power supply which gives you enough time to shut down safely after a power outage. |
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WORM |
Write Once Read Many |
A device such as a CDR or CDROM that can only be written to once. |
Acronyms & Abbreviations: Internet
On the internet you will come across many acronyms, abbreviations and other strange words. Following is a short list of some of the more common ones.
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ASP |
Active Server Pages |
Special web pages that generate themselves on the server every time you access them. Often used to tailor web pages to individual users. |
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Cache |
Short term memory storage |
Cache memory stores information that is used frequently so that future access is faster. |
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Chat |
Real time messaging systems |
Send and receive messages over the internet with people who are online at the same time. |
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Electronic Mail |
Messages sent via the internet using POP and SMTP servers. |
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HTML |
Hyper Text Markup Language |
Language used to create web pages. HTML was originally designed as a method for storing scientific papers. The world wide web saw HTML grow into a far more complex language. |
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HTTP |
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol |
Protocol used to transmit web pages across the internet. |
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ISP |
Internet Service Provider |
Your connection to the internet, a company with banks of modems. Your computer dials into one of these modems which then links you to the world wide web. |
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Java |
Scripting Language |
Java is a scripting (programming) language for creating more complex web pages. |
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LAN |
Local Area Network |
A group of PC’s, usually in the same building, connected by cable and sharing resources. |
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Newsgroups |
Bulletin boards |
Users post messages and other users post responses. There are thousands of newsgroups! |
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POP |
Post Office Protocol |
Protocol used for receiving mail. Your incoming mail server is called a POP server. |
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Proxy |
Proxy server |
A server acting as a communications gateway, network traffic is re-directed through the proxy server which can also act as a cache. |
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SMTP |
Simple Message Transfer Protocol |
Protocol used for sending mail. Your outgoing mail server is called an SMTP server. |
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VBScript |
Scripting Language |
VBScript is a scripting (programming) langage for creating more complex web pages. It’s also used to create ASP pages. |
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WAN |
Wide Area Network |
Devices connected via long distance networksoften using slow connections such as the internet. |
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WAP |
Wide Area Protocol |
Language used by devices to communicate over a WAN. Some mobile phones now support WAP |
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WWW |
World Wide Web |
The combined network of the world’s web pages. |
Acronyms & Abbreviations: Email & Chat
The following abbreviations are common to instant messaging and/or chat programs.
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AOL |
America Online (A dial-up, web browser & chat client in one) |
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ICQ |
I Seek You (An instant messaging program) |
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IRC |
Internet Relay Chat (Technical term describing chat systems) |
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mIRC |
An IRC program |
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MSN |
MSN Messenger (Another instant messaging program) |
When using email, instant messaging or chat software many abbreviations are utilised as a kind of short hand. Here is a small selection fyi
Smiley’s are also commonly used in emails and chat rooms.
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:) |
Smiley face |
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;) |
Wink |
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:( |
Sad face |